Reuters: In bloody drug war, Mexico's new leader may try negotiating
CHILPANCINGO, Mexico (Reuters) - For the past 12 years, Mexico has fought violent drug gangs by deploying thousands of police, soldiers and intelligence officers to crack down on cartels and their leaders.
If its new president-elect gets his way, however, negotiation may replace the hard-line strategy that critics say has only perpetuated violence.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a leftist who won on Sunday after two previous attempts at the presidency, wants to rewrite the rules of the drug war, aides said, suggesting negotiated peace and amnesties for some of the very people currently being targeted by security forces.
“The failed strategy of combating insecurity and violence will change,” Lopez Obrador said in his victory speech Sunday night, repeating his call to address the socioeconomic ills that push people toward the drug trade and other crimes.
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WNU Editor: There is too much money involved in drugs .... and for many who live in poverty in Mexico, too much of a temptation to not ignore. That is why I am not optimistic that these talks will go anywhere, and I doubt that the crime and corruption that it spawns will decrease anytime soon. As to releasing drug trafficers and granting an amnesty .... that is only going to increase the violence as soon as many of these former prisoners try to get their old jobs and territories back.
How does one negotiate with the toughest, most ruthless criminals on Earth? What compromises would work that aren't depraved?
ReplyDeleteNegotiate with Narco's and in due time, the Narco's will run the government.
The United States is the most lucrative drug market in the world. Americans need their drugs. The cartels are serving the market, at somewhere from $30 to $50 billion per year. Nobody is walking away from that kind of cash.
ReplyDeleteThe United States is a sick and rotting society.
Anon, on working with drug lords
ReplyDeleteThey had done that in the past with a major drug lord. The arrangement was that the head guy would not be sent off the U.S....and he would spend some time in jail, though once there he live as he wanted and with whatever he wanted.
anon on the US
ReplyDeletesince I am a decent enough citizen, I must defend my country. Yes. Mucho drugs used here. We are hardly the only nation to use...though we may be a major use nation. But you choose to remain anon., so we do not know what pleasant nation you live in, how much drug use goes on there, etc etc etc
tip: knock a place if you will but be gutsy enough to let us compare what you belittle with where you are from
It's true though, if there wasn't a massive demand for drugs in the U.S, there wouldn't be a massive drug trade fuelling organized crime throughout central America.
ReplyDeleteDrug cartels, mafia and jihadists are the only against who I want to use Stalin methods.
ReplyDeleteOf course a full work plan from the state to the population is needed to be real effective.
I suspect NAFTA turbo charged the illegal drug trade into the USA. With so much commerce crossing the border the Narco's make up in volume using the endless parade of semi-trucks going north. They can afford to lose 10%-20% of shipments because volume.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great time to be a smuggler, especially in California.
ReplyDeleteAnon "How does one negotiate with the toughest, most ruthless criminals on Earth? What compromises would work that aren't depraved?"
ReplyDeleteFor a moment there I thought you were talking about Kim.